Diabetes | Understanding Diabetes and Its Treatment Options

Managing blood sugar for diabetics is crucial because it safeguards your body’s vital organs from long-term damage and prevents severe short-term emergencies. By consistently controlling your blood sugar levels, you maintain healthy blood vessels, support your daily energy levels, and serve as the primary defense against diabetes-related complications.

Ozempic (Semaglutide) for Type 2 Diabetes Price at PULSE Clinic Thailand

Mounjaro (Trizepatide) for Type 2 Diabetes Price at PULSE Clinic Thailand

For more details on GLP-1 for diabetes and weight loss treatment and the ordering process, contact us at pulseliving@pulse-clinic.com or chat with us on your preferred platform. 

What is Diabetes?

According to the World Health Organization, the world is home to over 422 million children and adults with diabetes. They estimate that about a third of them are unaware that they even have the disease. Annually, approximately 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to the condition, and if left untreated, may cause blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, and lower limb amputation.

The difficulty in diagnosing diabetes is that the symptoms often occur over an extended timeframe; on average, people with type 2 diabetes go undiagnosed for 4-7 years. More often than not, the physician will make a diagnosis based on complications – heart problems, vision impairment, slow-healing sores, tingling feet – from diabetes, rather than directly from the disease itself.

Personalized diabetes treatment makes all the difference to long-term health, and achieving balanced treatment can be the key to living with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A variety of different factors have a role to play in treating diabetes, but the importance of balanced, co-ordinated diabetes treatment for all diabetics cannot be underestimated.

How Many Types of Diabetes Are There?

• Type 1 diabetes was previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5% to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors are less well defined for type 1 diabetes than for type 2 diabetes, but autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are involved in the development of this type of diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity.
• Gestational diabetes develops in 2% to 5% of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over. Obesity is also associated with a higher risk. Women who have had gestational diabetes are at increased risk for later developing type 2 diabetes. In some studies, nearly 40% of women with a history of gestational diabetes developed diabetes in the future.
• "Other specific types" of diabetes result from specific genetic syndromes, surgery, drugs, malnutrition, infections, and other illnesses. Such types of diabetes account for 1% to 2% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are chronic conditions that affect how your body processes blood sugar (glucose). While they share some similarities, they have different causes and mechanisms.

• Type 1 is an autoimmune disease where the body produces no insulin.
• Type 2 is characterized by insulin resistance, meaning the body’s cells can’t effectively use insulin.

Common Symptoms and Risks from Diabetes

Common diabetes symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination (especially at night), unexplained weight loss, and extreme fatigue. Other frequent warning signs are blurry vision, slow-healing sores, tingling in the hands or feet, and recurring infections. These signs occur when your body struggles to properly process or produce insulin, although some types of diabetes may initially show very mild or no symptoms at all.

Long-Term Health Risks from Diabetes

Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths. Men with diabetes can also develop urological and men's sexual health issues. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about two to four times as high as that of adults without diabetes.

• Stroke: The risk of stroke is two to four times higher in people with diabetes.
• High blood pressure: An estimated 60% to 65% of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.
• Blindness
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20 to 74 years old.
  • Diabetic retinopathy causes from 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.
• Kidney disease Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, accounting for about 40% of new cases.
• Nervous system disease
  • About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage (which often includes impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other nerve problems).
  • Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations.
• Amputations: More than half of lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes.
• Dental disease: Periodontal disease (a type of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss) occurs with greater frequency and severity among people with diabetes. Periodontal disease has been reported to occur among 30% of people aged 19 years or older with type 1 diabetes.
• Complications of pregnancy: The rate of major congenital malformations in babies born to women with preexisting diabetes varies from 0% to 5% among women who receive preconception care to 10% among women who do not receive preconception care.
• Other complications
  • Diabetes can directly cause acute life-threatening events, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma.*
  • People with diabetes are more susceptible to many other illnesses. For example, they are more likely to die of pneumonia or influenza than people who do not have diabetes.

*Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar nonketotic coma are medical conditions that can result from very high glucose levels and biochemical imbalance in uncontrolled diabetes.

How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated?

Type 1 diabetes treatment requires lifelong, daily administration of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Since the pancreas no longer produces insulin, patients must monitor their glucose. Management combines insulin therapy, carbohydrate tracking, and lifestyle adjustments to prevent severe highs and lows.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be permanently reversed or cured through diet, exercise, or lifestyle changes. The body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells, necessitating lifelong insulin therapy. However, emerging medical breakthroughs show hope for future advancements.

How Is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?

Type 2 diabetes treatments focus on lowering blood glucose levels to prevent complications. Core strategies include personalized lifestyle changes (diet, weight loss, and exercise), oral medications like metformin, injectable therapies such as GLP-1 agonists and insulin, and continuous glucose monitoring.

Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be reversed into remission. This means your blood sugar levels drop to healthy, non-diabetic levels, and you no longer require diabetes medication.

Why Does Losing Weight Help with Type 2 Diabetes?

Losing weight can put Type 2 diabetes into remission. Losing weight primarily aids in managing Type 2 diabetes by reducing fat accumulation around internal organs such as the liver and pancreas. This reduction directly leads to a decrease in insulin resistance. When your body’s cells regain the ability to effectively utilize insulin, glucose is efficiently removed from the bloodstream, resulting in improved overall glycemic control.

What Is GLP-1?

GLP-1 is a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar by triggering insulin release, blocking glucagon, and slowing digestion. GLP-1 agonist medications mimic these effects, aiding in blood sugar management for Type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 receptor agonists are a highly effective class of medications for type 2 diabetes. They stimulate insulin release, slow digestion, and suppress appetite, leading to significant reductions in A1C levels, weight loss, and a decreased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.

Examples of GLP-1 medications are:

• Saxenda (Liraglutide), made for use as a weight loss aid.
• Ozempic (Semaglutide), pioneered weekly injections for diabetes and weight loss.
• Wegovy (Semaglutide), the version of Semaglutide improved for use as a weight loss aid.
• Mounjaro (Tirzepatide), the first and only FDA-approved dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist.

How GLP-1 Medications Help People with Diabetes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in managing type 2 diabetes. Numerous GLP-1 medications have shown promising results in reducing HbA1c, a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past few months between doctor visits. 

• Insulin Release: They prompt the pancreas to release insulin precisely when blood sugar levels are elevated (after a meal), thereby preventing significant glucose spikes.
• Suppressing Glucagon: They inhibit the pancreas from releasing glucagon, a hormone that typically triggers the liver to release stored sugar.
• Slowing Digestion: They decelerate gastric emptying, prolonging the time food remains in the stomach, which aids in stabilizing glucose absorption.
• Regulating Appetite: They interact with the brain to induce a sense of fullness, resulting in reduced cravings, smaller portion sizes, and substantial weight loss.

Who May Benefit from GLP-1 Treatment?

GLP-1 treatments primarily benefit adults managing Type 2 diabetes or obesity, as well as those at high risk for cardiovascular disease. These medications work by mimicking a natural gut hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar levels, suppress appetite, and promote substantial weight loss.

The main uses of GLP-1 are:

• Treating Type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin release and lowering A1C levels.
• Managing chronic weight in adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
• Managing weight in adults with a BMI of 27 or higher who have at least one weight-related condition.

When To Get Tested for Diabetes?

If you’re 35 or older, or if you’re overweight and have risk factors like high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, or a family history of diabetes, it’s recommended that you get tested for the disease. If your results are normal, retesting is advised every 1 to 3 years.

However, it’s important to get tested immediately, regardless of your age, if you experience classic high blood sugar symptoms, such as:

• Extreme thirst
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination (especially at night)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurry vision
• Constant fatigue
• Extreme tiredness

How Do You Get Diagnose for Diabetes

The new diagnostic criteria for diabetes include the following changes:

• The routine diagnostic test for diabetes is now a fasting plasma glucose test. However, in certain clinical circumstances, physicians may choose to perform oral glucose tolerance test.
• A confirmed* fasting plasma glucose value of greater than or equal to 126 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.
• In the presence of symptoms of diabetes, a confirmed** nonfasting plasma glucose value of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.
• When a doctor chooses to perform an oral glucose tolerance test (by administering 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water, then measuring the plasma glucose concentration 2 hours later), glucose value of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.
• In pregnant women, different requirements are used to identify the presence of gestational diabetes.

* Except in certain specified circumstances, abnormal tests must be confirmed by repeat testing on another day.

Treatment Options for Diabetes

Diabetes knowledge, treatment, and prevention strategies advance daily. Treatment is aimed at keeping blood glucose near normal levels at all times. Training in self- management is integral to the treatment of diabetes. Treatment must be individualized and must address medical, psychosocial, and lifestyle issues.

• Treatment of type 1 diabetes: Lack of insulin production by the pancreas can make type 1 diabetes difficult to control. Treatment requires a regimen that includes a carefully calculated diet, planned physical activity, home blood glucose testing and multiple daily insulin injections.
• Treatment of type 2 diabetes: Treatment includes diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and insulin. Approximately 40% of people with type 2 diabetes require insulin injections.
  • Recently, a new medication called Ozempic has been prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes. Unlike insulin, Ozempic works by stimulating the pancreas to naturally produce more insulin. This once-weekly injection helps lower blood sugar levels, making it a highly effective treatment for managing type 2 diabetes.

When Should You Talk to a Healthcare Provider About GLP-1?

If you’re struggling to manage Type 2 diabetes or living with obesity and unable to achieve sustained weight loss through diet and exercise, consult a healthcare provider about GLP-1 medications. A medical consultation is necessary to assess your eligibility, as these medications have specific criteria and potential side effects.

PULSExpress Medication Refill

Refill your diabetes drugs with our online pharmacy service! We offer medications for diabetes. (Ozempic available!) Contact us to let us know which medications you need to be refilled. Our doctor will prescribe and get your refill delivered to your hotel/home.

Start your PULSE visit and chat with a provider within minutes.

If you are looking for any medications or a refill, email our online pharmacy at pulseliving@pulse-clinic.com or have a chat with us on your preferred platform:

1. Start your visit
   • Online visit - Tell us about yourmedical history and your background with the medication you need refilled.
   • in-person visit at PULSE Clinics - 16 branches in 5 countries across Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, The Philippines.
2. Talk to or Chat a PULSE provider 
   • Talk to our doctor to discuss the best options for you, local doctor fee applies.
3. Get your prescription and dispensary
   • Receive your prescription home delivery by multi-options such as Grab, by mail or via same-day pickup at PULSE Clinic and Pharmacy branches near you. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes and GLP-1

Is GLP-1 the Same as Insulin?

No, GLP-1 medications are not the same as insulin. Insulin is a hormone that facilitates the transfer of glucose from the bloodstream into cells for energy. On the other hand, GLP-1 receptor agonists function differently by stimulating the body’s natural insulin release when blood sugar levels rise, reducing glucagon production, slowing stomach emptying, and aiding in appetite control. Some individuals with Type 2 diabetes may opt to use both insulin and GLP-1 medications as part of their treatment plan.

Can GLP-1 Help With Weight Loss?

Yes, many GLP-1 medications have demonstrated their effectiveness in supporting weight loss. These medications work by promoting a feeling of fullness for an extended period and reducing appetite. While some GLP-1 medications are specifically prescribed for Type 2 diabetes, others are approved for chronic weight management in individuals who meet certain medical criteria. It’s important to note that the results of GLP-1 treatment can vary depending on the specific medication, dosage, and individual factors.

GLP-1 medications start working soon after treatment begins, but significant improvements in blood sugar levels and appetite may take several weeks. Weight loss usually happens gradually over time. Your healthcare provider will monitor your progress and may adjust your treatment plan as necessary.

What happens if I stop taking GLP-1?

If you stop taking a GLP-1 medication, its effects on blood sugar control and appetite regulation will gradually diminish. Some people may experience rising blood sugar levels or regain weight after stopping treatment. Always consult a healthcare provider before discontinuing any prescribed medication.

Are GLP-1 medications safe for long-term use?

GLP-1 medications have been extensively studied and are generally considered safe for long-term use when prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, which often improve over time. Your provider can help determine whether a GLP-1 medication is suitable for your individual health needs.

Do I need a prescription for GLP-1?

Yes, GLP-1 medications require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. A medical evaluation is necessary to determine whether a GLP-1 treatment is appropriate based on your medical history, current health status, and treatment goals.

The effectiveness of GLP-1 medications varies depending on the specific medication, dosage, and individual factors.

How quickly does GLP-1 start working?

GLP-1 medications begin working shortly after treatment starts, but noticeable improvements in blood sugar levels and appetite may take several weeks. Weight loss typically occurs gradually over time. Your healthcare provider will monitor your progress and may adjust your treatment plan as needed.

What happens if I stop taking GLP-1?

If you stop taking a GLP-1 medication, its effects on blood sugar control and appetite regulation will gradually diminish. Some individuals may experience rising blood sugar levels or weight gain after discontinuing treatment. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider before stopping any prescribed medication.

Are GLP-1 Medications Safe for Long-Term Use?

GLP-1 medications have undergone extensive research and are generally considered safe for long-term use when prescribed and monitored by a healthcare professional. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, which often improve over time. Your healthcare provider can help determine if a GLP-1 medication is suitable for your individual health needs.

Do I Need a Prescription for GLP-1?

Yes, GLP-1 medications require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. A medical evaluation is necessary to assess whether a GLP-1 treatment aligns with your medical history, current health status, and treatment objectives.